"Ughhhhh" The ruffling of papers fills the room. "Hmph," The sound of limbs hitting the carpeted floor. "Ughhhh" An increasingly loud groan rumbles across, "Uhhhh-"

"For fucks sake Vixxie, what!" Carrie snaps her chemistry book shut, glaring at Vixxie who's sprawled out on the cream carpet, legs up on Carries fluffy bean bag, English papers littered on her body. I stifle a chuckle looking up from my own textbook meeting Emily's eyes across the room.

"I'm bored and Gatsby is shit, like literal shit, the female oppression in this book makes me want to genuinely crawl into a hole a die. Why do they still teach us this crap in high school? Get more female authors on the syllabus who write about things other than horny men and money. I don't give a shit if Shakespeare is a legend because I can't understand a single fucking sentence." VJ talks animatedly throwing her arms in the air, a moment of silence passes and then we all burst out laughing, our revision on the track of being forgotten for the day.

"As correct and right as that entire statement is I don't think writing 'Shakespeare is shit and Gatsby makes me want to die' will work well for the marking aspect of your finals." Emily giggles. Vixxie groans again throwing paper in the air, I crawl over to her and perch next to her English books, she rearranges herself until her head is in my lap staring up at me as I look over the mock papers she's acquired.

"Depending on the question however you can talk about the female oppression in the book and contextually link it to others you've read this semester. Talk about the time periods and how it relates to the treatment of women. Your ideas are on target but maybe just...limit the inappropriate language?" Vixxies black nailed fingers cup my cheek, winged eyes narrowed in faux exasperation.

"Oh, you wise one. You grace me with your words, words I shall use because they are smart." I swat her on the head with the book and grin. "You and Blaze are too good at English, it actually sickens me." She huffs rolling off my lap and leaning her chin on her fist peering at me through her eyelashes. "Do you guys recite Shakespeare quotes and talk about all the hyperboles Fitzgerald puts in his work for some wicked foreplay. He recites the opening lines of Romeo and Juliet whilst his mouth is down-"

"Ohmygod stop." My cheeks flame so red you could cook a steak on them, Carrie and Emily are in fits of laughter rolling around on the floor, Vix Is still grinning at me innocently, "Of course not." I mumble, shoving her shoulder lightly.

"No? Do you just talk about the feminine injustice in the Great Gatsby whilst he plunges-"

"Vixxie!" I shriek slapping her shoulder, the girls howl in laughter whilst I did my palms into my eyes.

"Come on now Vix, stop teasing the poor girl," Emily says between spurts of laughter.

"In all seriousness though," Carrie crawls closer to us with hooded eyes, "put us out of our misery, tell us what we all want to know." She bites her lip settling next to VJ, Emily joins them and they all peer up at me with bright eyes and big grins.

"What..."

"Is it big?", "How good is he?", "Is he kinky... like proper kinky?" All three of them blurt at once, Vixxies the latter obviously. My cheeks deepen even more a flurry of heat climbing my neck.

"Well...? Come on, don't leave us out of the loop." Carrie pokes my legs, tucked under me, a bright contagious grin pulling at her lips that pulls at mine.

"Uhh... you want me to answer in order?" they nod, "Okay... well uh yes... very... crazy good... and uhm I don't know... I don't know what's classed as... kinky... at least not like the whole whips and chains type thing." My voice has diminished into a whisper and the girls hang onto every word intently before divulging into their own... past times. By the time the suns sets, we're all laughing and red-faced, especially when Emily points out the, apparently, obvious hickeys and bite marks that were visible at cheer practice the other day. Revision long forgotten as we move back to colleges, Carrie's got her acceptance to the Fashion Institute of technology and she keeps talking about how we're going to be roommates in New York- I'd be lying if I said that didn't make me want to do hundreds of summersaults. Going to school in New York with my best friend..but then I think about Blaze being miles away and my smile falters, Emily notices my sudden change in demeanour and shuffles beside me.

"How was seeing Alabama with Blaze? Was it as good as it looks? Did he like it?" She fiddles with a tassel on the end of Carrie's throw blanket.

"It was good, really amazing in fact. Blaze loved it, he really did and when he played with them.. it was... it was like he'd been part of the team all his life, like that was what he was meant to do. It was just so... perfect for him." I try to muster a smile because I really do mean those things and...

"It's okay to be happy and sad about it." Carrie squeezes my hand, I look up and see the same struggle in her eyes.

"Really? I mean I am happy for him, more than anything and I mean everything I say. But... well he was so happy and..." I don't want him to forget about me. It hurts so much even to think about being forgotten and discarded by Blaze.

"It's okay, we get it. Every time Rutherford talks about college I feel sick. I know not many relationships that start in high school last long in college and I'm aware that people change and grow but Rutherford and I have been together so long, we've had each other backs for so long that I'm scared to be without him and I don't want to stop loving him, and him me." Emily smiles sadly as I swallow the lump in my throat.

"I haven't even had a letter from Julliard. I feel like everyone's sorted and I'm already being left behind."

"That's nonsense, you're going to get your acceptance letter soon and then we'll all be off to New York ready for the time of our fucking life's baby!" Vixxie bumps my hip and wiggles slightly making me giggle.

"And we're all here with you Atty, we're not leaving you." Carrie squeezes my shoulder and I lean into her side forever thankful, "Anyways... I am starving, lets hit the diner?" Carrie pulls back and rubs her stomach; I look down at the time on my phone.

"I would but I start my shift in half an hour... I'll happily serve you though." I get to my feet rummaging through my work bag.

"We'll tip you in French fries," VJ says grabbing her jacket.

"Fuck, Fuck, Fuck! Oh for fucks sake Jameson! I told you not to fucking go that way!" Brady shouts at Ethan, games controllers in their hands. I lean back against the grey couch in Brady's basement- which was turned into some sort of man cave after they moved in for me and B mainly. Empty chip packets and bottles of sodas and beer lay abandoned around the bickering bodies.

"You betrayed me Jenkins, what the fuck!" Ethan argues back, the wasted sign floating on the large TV screen in front of them.

"You're fucking shit at GTA," Brady grumbles.

"Oh well sorry but you're even fucking shitter." He gripes back. The blows exchange hands over and over until-

"BLAZE. RUTHERFORD." I glance to my left where Rutherford's body is sprawled on the couch, he lifts an eyebrow as if to say are they fucking serious. Somehow whenever we allocate our time to chill and play video games someone always ends up in an argument over the fucking graphic games. I feel like I'm sitting with children, Brady is such a kid with all this shit. it was the exact same when he was eight.

"You two are fucking children. Chill the fuck out it's a game." I say flatly, Brady's eyes linger on me scrutinizingly then move back to Ethan, hardening humorously.

"Yeah, but who's-"

"I don't fucking care! It's a game!" I snap and watch Ethan visibly recoil as the air grows heavy. Brady's gaze finds mine and softens before I look down at the carpeted floor. "Sorry," I mumble back... surprising myself the most. Rutheford tentatively sits up and pats me on the shoulder as Brady gets up off the floor.

"You take over from me and try not to kill the fuckwit." He chucks the controller at Rutherford who gratefully accepts and makes a mocking face at Ethan whose already sulking. "Come help me grab some more snacks." B tries to pull me off the couch, we're about the same height but he probably weighs a few more pounds than me. I glare at him until he drops my arm and lets me get up on my own accord.

"Stubborn ass." He mutters as we walk up the stairs then he has the audacity to smack my ass and whistle behind me.

"You wish you could get your hands on this ass." My lips turn up slightly, Brady is such a fucking fool it's just in his nature to lift spirits.

"My little Atty birdy got that covered, unfortunately." The boy has the nerve to pout before I smack him in the side of the face. "Aw is she not into that kind of thing. Ditch her I'll do it." He winks at me, slinging his arm around my shoulders as we reach the landing. My lips quirk up fully this time, not because of what B's wittering on about but at the fact, I know what Atlas is into, and she's into a lot. My nervously, open-minded butterfly. But as soon as the moments flood my head my frown re-appears. My recently distanced butterfly.

"Alright, what's the crack Blazey." B jumps onto the kitchen counter and I lean my hip against the draw exhaling. "You've been crankier and more abysmal than ever this week."

I toy with the idea of telling him or just letting it simmer, I don't know much about relationships and living with your girlfriend before you've even begun dating isn't usually the norm but Atlas is acting out of sorts. I don't think I've upset her but... oh god I don't know.

"It's... it's Atlas." I give in jumping onto the counter next to him and playing with the rings on my fingers, one of Atlas' set on my pinkie finger, a light blue gem set in the centre. She slid it on the last time we lay naked, sheets bunched around our bodies, she'd not said a word just slipped it on and kissed me.

"Is she alright, are you guys alright?" B stops searching the kitchen cupboards and turns to face me fully, brows bunched in concern.

"Yeah she's fine, we're fine... I think... yeah... no, I... uh don't know. I think I've upset her or something." I exhale deeply pushing my hand through my hair.

"Why, what did you do?"

"I... I really don't know. Shittest boyfriend award, I know." I laugh defeatedly.

"Don't say that Blaze. You're talking shit. She loves you because you're great and you treat her like she deserves to be treated. She's come from so much shit and people who have pushed her into her shell but you've pulled her out you dick." He claps a hand on my shoulder and squeezes, "Now come on, let's talk about our feelings or some shit because as men it's important we do- not to be pushed down my stereotypes." He nods triumphantly with such determination in his eyes I can't help but smile, "Why do you think you've upset her?"

"Since we got back from Alabama the other day she's been... distant." I run my hand across my face, I feel like I've been treading on eggshells all week.

"How so?"

"She... uh I don't know... she's all smiles and whenever I talk about Alabama she's all like 'go for it, it's where you're meant to be' but there's trepidation in her eyes, she just been emotionally distanced from me without trying to hurt me. She's not ignoring me but there's that weird tension and we both know it's there." I finish and Brady punches me in the arm, "Hey? The fuck was that for!" I look up and he's smiling.

"She's scared, bro. She's scared but she doesn't want to derail you or make you feel guilty so she won't tell you. Atlas hasn't even got her Julliard letter yet, she's still hanging in limbo. Look we had a conversation a few days ago and she couldn't stop gushing about how you fit in with the team and how she's so excited for you. She's genuine Blaze and she's so proud of you but she sees us together all set to go to Alabama and she's petrified. People have always betrayed her, she's been dumped on the scrap heap so many times and she's probably just trying to emotionally distance herself from the blow. She may have Carrie and VJ in New York with her but not at Juilliard, she's only just got back into dancing and even though she's fucking incredible she's panicking. Just talk to her and tell her that no matter what she'll be bringing her ass to see our games and we'll be moving our asses to New York to watch all her shows and shit. " I look at Brady, my best friend, and smile. Fucking smartass knows everything. "I for one and certain she's going to get into that shitting school and I'm fucking excited to see her dance in New York. Blaze, if you love her you'll make it work and you just have to remind her that. Sure it might be tough and you'll go through patches of shit but I'm confident you'll figure it out. You two are the strongest people I know and I can't imagine you without each other now... you just... fit."

"When did you find a fucking brain." I clap back slightly stunned at his sound moral advice.

"I've just been spending too much time with your girlfriend, she gives the best fucking advice, no matter how weird the situation." He pinches his chin in thought.

"I know," I mumble.

"Just talk to her Blazey boy. It'll be fine." I nod sheepishly as Rutherford and Ethan trail into the kitchen.

"Alrighty, you pussies, let's go. I'm hungry and the girls are at the diner." Brady jumps off the counter like an excited labrador and bounds out of the kitchen, Ethan following quickly behind. I go to follow but Rutherford holds me back.

"I wasn't eavesdropping or anything but I get you, okay? Emily's the same and we're kind of avoiding the whole college topic but if you need to talk about it, I'm here. Atlas is a good one and you two are weirdly perfect for each other. Things will pan out okay as long as you work at it." He smiles gingerly and wraps his arm around my shoulders, I reciprocate the gesture before my throat tightens a bit.

"For fucks sake when did we all get so fucking soppy. Let's go I'm starving." I quickly pull him through the doorway as he laughs.

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